All the major export sectors registered a positive trend during the
first eight months (July-February) of current financial year with the textile manufactures
scoring a growth rate of 11.50 per cent, according to detailed foreign trade figures
released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics here on Thursday.

Particularly heartening is the performance of the manufactured exports.
Their share in total exports ($5.484 billion) at the end of the 8month period stood at
87.22%, compared to 87.41% during the corresponding period of last year. Only marginal
though, the improvement is significant in view of the sluggishness of the manufacturing
sector persisting for quite some time past.

Notably, the textile manufacturing sector seems to be coming into own,
as indicated by the trade figures. In July-February (1999-2000), textile manufactures
totalled $3.55 billion 64.72% of total exports. This shows 1.12% increase over the
corresponding period of last year. However, underlying reason for the increase may be the
pressure on exporters to sell their wares at any price.

This, however, points to a curious aspect: export of cotton yarn.
According to official statistics, the country exported $678.34 million worth of cotton
yarn, up in dollar terms by 13.09%. But the quantity of cotton yarn (321,524 tons)
exported during this period increased by 21.41%.

Even otherwise, experts point out that export of cotton yarn is no big
deal because it constitutes only 8% value addition which in fact is negative in view of
the power, labour and transportation consumed to spin yarn from raw cotton.

As usual, cotton fabrics were the highest source of foreign exchange
among textile manufactures. In value ($713.41 million) though, their exports went up by
1.61%, but quantitatively, these increased by as much as 23.40%. This shows a sharp drop
in the unit price of cotton fabrics in spite of the economic boom in United States, a
major market for our textiles.

Sugar price hiked

The price of sugar in the city has touched to Rs22 per kg, depending on
locality, from Rs21 per kg in the last few days.

This is another burden on the consumers who are already reeling under
the recently hiked prices of wheat varieties. The increase in sugar prices has further
pushed up the kitchen budget.

Trade deficit rises to 29pc

The trade deficit of Pakistan increased to 29.66 per cent i.e. $1.10
billion during the first eight months (July-Feb) of fiscal 1999-2000 as compared to the
corresponding period of the last year.

According to the aggregate figures for trade available from a Finance
Ministry source here on Wednesday, the exports totalled $5,484 million in the period
July-February of the current financial year, showing 9 per cent increase over the last
year.

But the imports, which stood at $6,590 million, shot up by 12 per cent
when compared to the import figures ($5,883.92 million) for the period July-February,
1998-99. Thus, the import bill increased by $706 million over the corresponding period of
last financial year as against the exports which improved by $453 million.

As a result, the trade gap rose by $253 million or by 32.9% during
July-February, 1999-2000, over the corresponding period of the last year. In terms of
Pakistani rupee, the trade gap widened by 62%. In absolute terms, Pakistan faced a trade
deficit of Rs 572.13 billion at the end of the 8-month period this year, as against Rs
360.26 billion for the period July-February (1998-99).

Govt may allow subsidy on kinno export to BD

The federal government may allow 25 per cent subsidy on the export of
10,000 metric tons of kinno to Bangladesh from Export Development Fund.

The subsidy is being considered for shipment made exclusively to the
Bangladesh till April 30.

Official sources told on Monday that the commerce ministry has
submitted its proposal to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet for a
final decision.

Pakistan, Turkey to set up trading co

Pakistan and Turkey can explore the possibility of establishing a Joint
Marketing Company to access the markets of Europe and Central Asia and at the same time
boost the bilateral trade.

The suggestion was made by President of FPCCI Fazalur Rehman Dittu
during a meeting with a 13-member Turkish delegation on Monday at Federation House.

The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia is scheduled to commence
a direct service to Qasim International Container Terminal at Port Qasim in Pakistan next
month, writes A R Siddiqi, Karachi.

The service will help boost Pakistani exports to Saudi Arabia.

The first vessel of the company, the S Hofuf, will call at QICT in
April. Announcing the new service, a QICT official described the event a great
breakthrough and said that a ship of national shipping company of Saudi Arabia will call
at Port Qasim as a regular service for the first time in the shipping history of the two
countries.

This would greatly enhance import and export trade to and from Pakistan
to Saudi Arabia and the US.

Japan port aid offer for Gwadar

Japan has offered to help Pakistan dust off its long-delayed ambitions
for a deep-water port project in Gwadar but the Pakistan government must first agree to
sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty on nuclear testing, writes Matthew Flynn, Tokyo.

The Japanese offer was made by ambassador Minoru Kubota during comments
to reporters at a ceremony to announce financial support worth $433,000 for grass-roots
projects.

Japan halted official development assistance after Pakistan carried out nuclear tests
in 1998.